Automatic fire-extinguisher



(No Model.)

J. GLAPP.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER. No. 360,142. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

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JOSEPH CLAPP, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

QPECIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,142, dated lflarcn 29, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH CLAPP, of Evans ton, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of said extinguisher in its normal condition. Fig. 2 isa like view thereof, partly in section, showing the parts in their relative positions when in use for extinguishing fires. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view in detail upon the line m, Fig. 1, showing the valve and means for retaining it in place; and Fig. 4c is an end view in detail of the device for adjusting the position of the retaining-lever.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic fire-extinguisher for use in public buildings, factories, and the like, which shall possess the maximum of sensitiveness, simplicity, and strength, be readily adjusted to meet the requirements of varying water-pressure, for the purpose of preventing leakage, distribute the water to the utmost advantage, and drain itself thoroughly after use, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents ashort length of pipe having screw-threads a uponits lower end, adapted to be screwed into the usual T- union of a water-pipe system. The upper end of said part A, the exterior of which is also screw-threaded, is preferably enlarged for the reception of a valve-seat, as hereinafter described, and is provided with a frame, B, attached thereto by means of said screw-thread. Said frame B is provided with a cross-piece, B, in the middle of which and in line with the axis of the pipe A-is inserted a hole for the reception and lateral support of a vertical valve-stem, C, which is adjusted to slide loosely therein. To the lower end of said stem is attached a metal valve, D; adapted to fit upon a corresponding valve-seat, A, as shown in Fig. 1.

Loosely pivoted to the cross-bar B, preferably at one side of the valve-stem G, as at c,

is a bifurcated lever, E, between the arms of which the crossbar B is inserted, as shown in Fig. 3. Said lever-arm E is preferably intended to rest normally in a horizontal position, and is provided with upwardly-projecting parts 6 6, between which is inserted a wheel, F, having axial bearingsff at the extremities of said parts, as shown.

The crossbar B is preferably extended upon one side, and is provided with an upwardlybent portion, B, having two or more crosspins, b Z), to one of which is loosely pivoted a thin metal strip, G, which in its normal position is carried back horizontally above the arm E until it meets with andlaps upon alike metal strip, G, which is preferably made shorter, and is attached to the arm 1*] by hav' ing its end inserted in aslot cut in a shoulder of said arm, as shown. The metal strips G G are soldered together at the lap g, Fig. 1, with soft solder, capable of melting at a low temperaturc.

The arm E is provided with a bead, c, upon its free end, which rests against the underside of the strip G, and is cut away upon the top, soas not to be brought into contact with the metal strips G G, the object being to prevent the absorption of heat from the latter to the former, thus rendering the soldered joint g more sensitive.

By means of the long arm E, which bears upon the plate G near its pivot or fulcrum, I obtain a compound leverage, which causes but a minimum strain upon the soldered joint at 9, although the pressure upon the valve may be very great. This arrangement enables me to use very thin metal where the jointis formed, which increases its sensitiveness in a corresponding degree.

By means of the pins 1) b, I am enabled to gage the position ofsaid lever to meet the pressure required. If a nominal pressure only is placed upon the valve, the part G may be placed upon the upper pin 1), while the lower pin may be used in case of greater pressure. The nominal pressure may be governed by turning the frame B upon the screw-threaded portion of the part A,to which it is attached, to a degree sufficient to prevent leakage, at which point it may be retained by means of a set-screw, a.

Attached to the frame B, immediately below I OD the cross-bar B, I provide a canopy or distributer,H,preferably struck from sheet metal and having perforations h therein, so formed as to leave the body of metal cut from the perforation still attached to the plate and bent downwardly, as shown at h, Fig. 2, so that the stream of water may impinge thereon when the valve is opened and cause a portion of the water to pass through said plate in sprays or jets, while the remainder is deflected upon the remaining portion of the plate, thus thoroughly distributing the whole.

It will be observed that as the valve-seat D is placed in position and the lever-arm E arranged horizontally, the roller F is caused to press upon the top of the valve-stem 0, thus retaining the valve securely in place; butas soon as the solder at the joint 9 becomes fused the'upward'pressure of the valve-stem raises the lever, thus giving the short arm a lateral movement, which causes the Wheel F to'roll off from the end of the valve-stem,whereupon the latter is raised to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the said sprinkler is placed above the supply-pipe, it is obvious that it will be completely drained upon withdrawing the water from said supply-pipe.

I am aware that cylindrical orcupshaped rotary distributors in which openings have been arranged tangentially to the periphery 3c thereof for the purpose of producing rotation are o1d,and I make no claim to such construction. 1

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic fire-extinguisher in which the valve is held, to its seat by means of a pivoted lever retained in position by a fusible soldered support, a loose wheel upon the short arm of said lever to serve as a direct o suport for the valve-stem, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. An automatic fire-extinguisher in which the valve is. held to its seat by means of a wheel upon the short arm of a pivoted lev'er, the free end of which is retained normally in place by a thin metal strip, one end of which is pivoted to a supporting-arm and the other lapped upon and soldered by fusible solder to a secondary thin plate, which is attached to said pivoted lever, substantially as andfor the purposes described.

. JOSEPH CLAPP. WVitnesses: 1

D. H. FLETCHER, J. B. HALPENNY. 

